Dr. Boris Azernikov, the 26-year-old Soviet Jewish dentist charged with anti-Soviet activities, was found guilty by the Leningrad court Thursday and sentenced to three and a half years in a strict-regime labor camp, Jewish sources reported. Dr. Azernikov’s trial opened Wednesday. Soviet Jewish sources who attended the public trial called the sentence extremely brutal, even for a Soviet criminal court, and said there was in fact insufficient evidence to convict him. Jewish sources have maintained that the defendant was the first Soviet Jew to be charged with activities against the state solely for applying for emigration to Israel. Dr. Azernikov admitted the activities but insisted they were not anti-Soviet.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
